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DC Jazz Festival Announces DCJazzPrix Finalists

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The DC Jazz Festival® (DC JazzFest) today announced the three exceptional emerging bands chosen as the 2017 DCJazzPrix™finalists all of whom will perform on Thursday, June 15 in a FREE concert as part of the 2nd annual DC Jazz Festival DCJazzPrix Finals at the University of the District of Columbia Theatre for the Arts.
They are:

A national competition created to recognize and support first class emerging jazz band talent from across the country, DCJazzPrix was launched in 2016 and has received tremendous response. An expert Jury considered a highly competitive pool of dynamic applicants (ages 18-40), and evaluated bands for artistic quality and merit.

Each band will now receive the high degree of visibility inherently associated with a major jazz festival stage, competing at the DCJazzPrix Finals at UDC. The audience response will be a significant factor in the Jury's ultimate determination of our winner. Aside from gaining significant exposure, the winning ensemble will also be awarded a $15,000 cash prize and a year-long technical assistance association with the DC Jazz Festival, designed to encourage their professional development and provide business support. Additionally, the winning band will perform a main stage 2018 DC Jazz Festival engagement.

"It is exciting to help identify and promote the careers of emerging jazz artists committed to the creative and professional development of their very own excellent bands," said DC Jazz Festival Executive Director Sunny Sumter. "DCJazzPrix is unique in that it recognizes the unique jazz ritual of the band, in the true democratic tradition of jazz. It encourages jazz artists to concentrate on band development and personnel stability, increase performance opportunities and business acumen, and broaden their collective output."

About DCJF

Since 2005, the DC Jazz Festival organization has provided enriching and entertaining jazz performances and programs that introduce students and adults from all walks of life to jazz, our nation’s singular original art form.